STUBBS DIARY. 
555 
ropes on the wheels, and, notwithstanding 1 the length of the team and 
high opposing bank, got it oat so quickly that the sudden turn nearly 
upset it. The other gun and howitzers were got over without any 
difficulty, but it took a long time getting all the carts and hackeries 
across. Got to camp about 11 o'clock. 
April 16th .—The rebels have a camp across the Ganges on the high 
bank bordering the Kadir land, and some rifle pits in the sand near the 
river. They have boats moored on their side under the pits. Have 
been saddled with temporary charge of the Engineer's park, also with 
the permanent one of Austen and Smyth's reserve ammunition. 
April 17th .—Two Horse Artillery guns under Renny went to the 
bank and fired a few shell across at the rebels. The pits seemed empty. 
Hanna and I went down to try and capture the two boats, but just as 
we had begun to undress a fire was opened from the rifle pits, which 
were full of them, and only about 150 yards distant. So we had to put 
on our boots again and retire ingloriously, making short rushes towards 
them, which disturbed their aim, much to the amusement of Renny and 
the others above on the bank. He might have helped a brother sub. 
with a round shot or two. We only got laughed at. 
At half-past 2 o'clock heard that the rebels had evacuated their 
camp. There had been firing heard in the direction of Asafgarh, 
and we knew Brigadier Jones was engaged there. Some of us went 
across with a company of Sikhs and some of Hughes' horse. Brought 
back two small tents, a shamidna , 1 and some iron, both acceptable. 
Captain Hughes brought from Jones' camp an order for me to march 
and cross the river higher up to join him. I represented to Smyth 
that a night march and crossing the river (which, though not too 
deep for guns, is so for carts) in the dark would be rather risky, so 
he wrote to say he would bring me on next morning. 
April 18th , Sunday .—Started at half-past 2 a.m. A troop of Cara- 
biniers, then my guns and platform wagons ; then Renny with two 
Horse Artillery guns ; lastly, a troop of Hughes' men under Fairlie. 
Had bullocks in ; progress was slow. Gunner Dixon, in passing 
through high grass jungle, stumbled and fell under the wheel of an 
18»pr., which passed across his back obliquely. Found him in great 
pain, but the apothecary of the Carabiniers failed to find a bone 
broken; got him into a dooly. 2 Got to Asafgarhghat at half-past 
6 o'clock. Not a boat there; stream very rapid at the junction of a 
branch. The rest went on ahead and left me behind with all the sick. 
Got the guns across, and tried to make up rafts with the platform 
planks, but the wood being very heavy would hold nothing above 
water. 
About 2 p.m. a company of Rifles, under Magill, arrived from Shis- 
hamghat in five boats, with Thomason of the Engineers. We set to 
work at once and got more than half the carts over by 11 p.m. Tents 
all gone on. Dougall and a company of the 17th came from Bagwali 
1 A canopy supported by four poles. Useful to keep off sun. 
2 He recovered, wonderful to say ; but bad to be invalided and sent borne. Tbe thick clumps 
of root from which the grass springs saved him. 
